Improvement in trunk-lid supports



GEORGE H. JOHNSON & FRED BOTTNER.

162.) Trunk Lid Support.

Patented Eec.12,1871.

Witmm J M) PATENT OFFICE.

GEORGE H. JOHNSON AND FRED. BOTTNER, OF BRIDGEPORT, CONNECTICUT.

IMPROVEMENT lN TRUNK-LID SUPPORTS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 121,786, dated December 12, 1871.

To all whom it may concern:

Beit known that we, GEORGE E. JOHNSON and FRED. BOTTNER, of Bridgeport,in the county of Fairfield and State of Connecticut, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Trunk-Lid Support; and we do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description thereof, which will enable others skilled in the art to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawing forming a part of this specification.

The object of this invention is to provide suitable and convenient means for supporting the lids or covers of trunks, chests, and boxes; and consists in a hinged rod and guide-plate, as hereinafter described for supporting the cover.

In the accompanying drawing, Figure 1 represents a front view, showing the cover open and supported by two rods and guide-plates. Fig. 2 is a side view of the same partly in section.

Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts.

A represents the body of the trunk or box. B is the cover or lid. C is the supporting-rod, which is attached to the trunk Aby means of an eye or staple, or hinged thereto in any suitable manner. D is the guide-plate, which is fastened to the end of the lid or cover by screws or nails. The form of the guide is seen in the sectional portion of Fig. 2. The guide is inade of sheetmetal, with its two sides 0 e turned up and inward, forming each a groove. At the lower end of the plate is an offset, f. The supporting-rod C has a -T-end, (see Fig. 1,) and the ends of the cross of the T run in the grooves as the coveris raised or lowered. When the cover is thrown back the end of the rod reaches the lower ends of the grooves e e, and drops into the recess f, as seen in Fig. 2, which effectually supports the cover in an upright position, or when the latter is carried past its center of gravity, as in Fig. 2. One of these rods and guide-plates is usually placed on each end of the trunk or box. We do not confine ourselves strictly to the form of the guide D nor to the T-end for the supporting-rod. The rod may be confined to a guide in a different manner and slide thereon, and produce the same result, and be substantially the same thing.

The rod and the guide-plate are let into the end of the trunk and the cover, so that they form no obstruction to tightly closing the trunk. When the cover is raised, as seen in Fig. 2, the rod forms a brace which holds in both directions. To lower the cover itis simply necessary to raise the ends of the rod or rods from the recesses f, when, as the cover closes, the ends of the rods slide in or on the guides and are brought down parallel with the top of the trunk.

The advantages of this mode of supporting trunk and box-covers will be apparent to all.

Having thus described our invention, what we claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

The peculiar construction and arrangement of the grooved and offsetted plate D, and hinged rod C, as and for the purpose specified.

GEORGE H. JOHNSON. FRED. BOTTNER.

BYRON ATHINGTON. (162) 

